Sending out another toaster SOS: any new recommendations?
Asked by
Jeruba (
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14 hours ago
The question originally came from @JeSuisRickSpringfield in 2017, but my toaster drama pretty much took over the thread (sorry, Rick), complete with an update in 2021.
That second DeLonghi toaster was just as much of a lemon as its predecessor, in exactly the same ways. I’ve lived with the duplicate successor for four years, even though it boasted all the same character defects from day 1.
Last week I’d finally had enough of its uneven toasting and long wait time. I booted it out and installed my backup device, which I trusted for its esteemed name, Cuisinart.
It is a tinny piece of junk.
Not only does it sound and feel worthless, with its rattly hollow body so lightweight that it moves with a stammer on the counter when I push down the lever, but its impractical dial is a circle of silvery plastic so shiny bright that its markings are unreadable unless I use a flashlight.
And its toasting is wildly uneven. An English muffin requires a longer interval than its max setting, so I had to find a halfway point and run two cycles. But even when I rotate the muffin halves at the midpoint, they still come out dark to near burnt on one half and pale on the other.
So, Jellyfolk, please tell me once more about your satisfactory kitchen countertop devices. I’m ready to chance it again out there in the wicked world of electric toasters.
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12 Answers
I never liked toasters. They’re unreliable. You think you got the setting right and the next few pieces of bread get Burt. And they’re messy. Get crumbs all over. We had a toaster when I was a kid that was dangerous. Gave out strong shocks. The last time that I got near it it spot-welded a butter knife to it.
We use a toaster oven now.
Good luck!
@hat
I bought a Tatung table fan in 1978, which broke in 1986.
I replaced it with a Panasonic, and it’s still going strong today, 39 years later.
I admit it does a poor job of making toast, but I’d say Panasonic’s quality is widespread.
^ I’m only 9 years in with my toaster oven, but I consider that a win with modern appliances.
The last toaster I had was a simple Hamilton Beach that cost about $30 and was very low tech, but made nice toast. The other day, there was a minor dramatic event with a small bottle top falling in. After much grunting and many expletives, I removed the offending object with bamboo tongs and shouted “Hurrah!” (which sounded more like “Jeez, f**k, finally”). And busted the device in the process.
I stormed off in a huff to Ocean State Job Lot and bought a $15 toaster. Never heard of the brand, it toasted just fine.
If it breaks soon, then lesson learned, I’ll go back to brand names, but for now, on such a low-ticket item, the no-name device is just fine.
Good luck with crisping up those English muffins!
I have a 50 YO toaster that has a release hatch on the bottom, which might provide an easier means of retrieval for future occasions.
Recently got a new toaster that was recommended by reviews and the local fancy kitchen shop, and after a few months, it still seems pretty good: Breville’s ‘A Bit More’® Toaster
It’s a bit expensive, too. But it does do quite a precise and even toasting job. And if you are really picky, you can under-set it and then use the ‘A Bit More’® button to keep adding just a bit more till it’s what you want.
It’s not perfect, in that:
* It has 2 slots (or 5, if you get the 4-slice), though they can each fit two narrow things.
* The slots are a certain height, so smaller things may not be particularly convenient to get out.
* If it’s been recently used, that seems to throw off how brown something will get, compared to starting out cool.
* It’s not particularly fast at toasting things.
But otherwise, it’s been quite nice, and much better than several other toasters I’ve experienced.
Our toaster is an Everstar. I’ve never heard of the brand, but it’s high quality, and does a great job on everything from bagels to regular toast. There is a way to adjust how brown you want your toast too. It’s over 6 years old.
I’m still using the same dualit toaster I bought in the 90’s that I mentioned in the previous question. Although I have replaced one of the elements. Which I got from dualit for £6 and came with a little spanner to open the toaster
I bought an Oster brand toaster a few years ago (2021 I think) and really like it. We use it almost every day. I think it was $27 at Target, something like that. It does toast slightly uneven, but I don’t mind.
It’s nicer and more substantial than the one I mentioned in the other Q. The toaster I mentioned in the other Q was with me for a long time, over 15 years.
I have a Dualit also that the Ex gave me about 30 years ago. It’s fine.
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